Sixth Biennial Report of the State Library Commission for the State of Delaware 1913-1914

SIXTH BIENNIAL REPORT OF The State Library Commission FOR THE STATE OF DELAWARE
1913-1914
THE STATE SENTINEL PRINT
DOVER, DEL.
SIXTH BIENNIAL REPORT
OF
The State Library Commission
FOR
THE STATE OF DELAWARE
1913-1914
THE STATE SENTINEL PRINT
DOVER, DEL.
STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION.
MEMBERS.
MRS. JAMES W. ANTHONY,
SMYRNA.
A. L. BAILEY,
WILMINGTON.
MRS. C. E. BURCHENAL,
WILMINGTON.
HENRY P. CANNON,
BRIDGEVILLE .
DANIEL W. CORBIT,
ODESSA.
MRS. CHARLES R. MILLER,
Red Oak Road, WILMINGTON.
G. H. MURRAY,
VIOLA.
MISS MARGARET ORR,
LEWES.
MRS. HENRY RIDGELY,
DOVER.
\
Reappointed June 13, 1910, for,5 years.
Reappointed June 13, 1910, for 5 years.
Reappointed Apr. 24, 191 2, for 5 years.
Reappointed Dec. 13, 1913, for 5 years.
Reappointed June 13, 1910 for, for 5 years.
Reappointed Dec. 28, 1912, for 5 years.
Appointed Feb. 10, 1911, for 5 years.
Appointed Jan. 4, 1912, for 5 years.
Appointed June 13, 1910, for 5 years.
OFFICERS.
DANIEL W. CORBIT, President.
T. W. WILSON, Secretary.
MISS IDA V. CULBRETH, Librarian.
All correspondence relating to the work of the Commission should be addressed to The State Library Commission, Dover, Delaware.
THE STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE.
Sixth Biennial Report-1913 and 1914
January 15, 1915.
To the Members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Delaware in General Assembly met:
The State Library Commission begs leave to submit the following report of the work of the Commission during the past two years.
The State Library Commission in its effort to make books accessible to everyone in the State has four lines of activity.
I. By suggestion, by the loan of books and by other means it endeavors to develop in the various towns of the State sentiment in favor of establishing free public libraries.
During the past two years a free public library has been started in Rehoboth Beach and also in St. Georges. The Com­mission has aided these small libraries as much as possible and it is to be hoped that as time goes on they will become more and more prosperous.
2 . It lends books to those individuals throughout the State who are studying special subjects and who do not have access to any library.
There are various persons scattered throughout the State who do not have access in any way to books. Some of these who live in New Castle county have the privilege of using the Wilmington Free Library. Those in the lower part of the State from time to time make calls upon the State Library Commission.
The number of books in our possession suitable for the use of serious students is very small, but those who have had occasion
4
to use them have always been deeply grateful and the amount of good accomplished cannot be measured in terms of dollars and cents.
3. It maintains nearly 100 small collections of books known as "Traveling Libraries" which it sends to villages, towns, clubs, granges, lodges, day schools and Sunday schools, busi­ness organizations-in [.act, to any organization or institution which will agree to be responsible for the books and make them accessible to the public.
Until the year 1912 practically the sole activity of the Com­mission lay in its maintenance of these "Traveling Libraries."
During the past 14 years they have gone into many schools and communities which otherwise would never have been brought 'into contact with the best books of modern times, and would have remained untouched by the thought of modern thinkers.
It is true that these books have gone into many communities, but it is also true that a much larger number of communities have not had the benefit of these tools of modern education.
In fact, the resources of the Commission are severely taxed with present demands. A reference to the report of the Librarian will show that during the years 1913 and 1914, 267 "Traveling Libraries" were sent out, the total number of books being over 12,000.
In 1914 the number of requests for these "Traveling Libraries" exceeded the number available. Twenty new libra­ries, costing at least $50 each, ought to be added immediately in order to meet the demand for 1915. The present appropriation for the Commission does not permit of such a large increase.
4. It maintains book wagons which deliver books from house to house on country routes in Kent and Sussex counties.
This work, begun in the fall of 1912, has met with such warm response and appreciation from the people of the districts reached that the field has widened rapidly during the last two years showing that there is a real need in the State for service of this kind. In actual operation books to the number of 75 or more are placed in a wagon or an automobile in charge of an
5
agent who not only knows books but studies the tastes and needs of the people whom she serves. The wagon goes from house to house on selected routes in the country. The people have a chance to look over the books, can return books previously bor­rowed, and select new books on their own initiative or on advice of the librarian in charge. The wagon then proceeds to the next house. The purpose of these book wagons is to supplement in a way the work of the schools, but mainly to inculcate a love of good books and to broaden the outlook of the readers. In the opinion of the members of the Library Commission I no other work undertaken by the State in recent years promises such far­reaching results. So far only a very small beginning has been made in this latest phase of educational effort.
A reference to the report of the Librarian shows that in 1914 the number of households visited and the number of books loaned increased about 70%. The routes so far laid out exist wholly in Sussex and Kent counties. The appropriation is utterly inadequate to make more than a beginning in the work and so far. The Commission has not felt able to start a book wagon in any part of New Castle county. The possibilities of the work are limited only by the number of families in rural Delaware.
We respectfully call your attention to the Biennial Report of the Librarian, Miss Culbreth, which gives full statistics of the work done, and also to the Report of Mr. Thomas Wilson, who is Ex-officio Secretary and Treasurer of the Commission.
Respectfully submitted,
D. W. CORBIT, President.
REPORT OF TREASURER
OF THE STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION FOR TWO YEARS.
1913-1914.
The amount of the appropriation for the years 1913 and 19 14
in the hands of the State Treasurer subject to warrants signed by
President and Secretary of the Commission, was $2,200.
Librarian's salary
Books . . .. . .
Stationery, Stamps and Printing
Coal .... ... .
Repairs of Books, etc.
Repairs of Boxes, New Cases and etc.
Expenses .
Supplies ..
Bookwagon
Librarian's Salary . . . .
Books . . . . . .. . . .
Stationery, Stamps and Printing
Coal . . . . .. ... . . .
Repairs of Books, etc. . . . .
Repairs of Boxes, New Cases and etc.
Expenses .
Supplies ..
Bookwagon
Respectfully submitted,
• $ 480 00
864 g6
112 63
34 .56
40 35
49 01
155 18
67 24
396 07
$ 2,200 00
. $ 480 00
71 I 12
68 75
22 00
56 82
124 38
167 84
65 45
50 3 64
$ 2,200 00
THOMAS W. WILSON, Treasurer.
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.
The librarian submits the following report for the year 1913-1914.
TRAVELING LIBRARIES.
The traveling libraries have increased in numbers, and it would seem in usefulness also, for many encouraging words and letters have come from a number of teachers and others using the libraries, expressing to the Commission their appreciation of the work, its helpfulness, and their interest in it. These li­braries are sent throughout the State to schools, Sunday schools, clubs, granges, lodges and various other associations. Those sent to the day schools are also for the use of the community in which they are placed, and as there is often a request from a pupil for a book to take home to· the parents, there are to be found in almost all the libraries a few books for older people. At the request of a number of teachers books on special subjects have been sent to them. Books on farming have been used freely by those interested in agriculture. Several of the women's clubs in the State continue to borrow books from the Commission for their study classes. The Boy Scouts of Clayton, Laurel and Selbyville have been supplied with books of special interest to them. The new Century Clubs of Delmar, Georgetown and Laurel and the Boys' and Girls' Club of Milford, the Rehoboth Beach Free Library, a library association of St. Georges and the W. C. T. U. of Townsend all have the traveling libraries in their free reading rooms.
CIRCULATION.
In 1913 the traveling libraries were circulated 122 times, 301 requests were filled for books and libraries and 5937 volumes were loaned.
In 1914 fifteen new cases were added to the collection, making a total of ninety-five traveling libraries. These libraries
8
were circulated 145 times, 535 requests were filled for libraries and books, 7204 volumes were loaned. These numbers do not include the books from several libraries which are in constant use with the book wagons. In 1914 the requests for traveling libraries far exceeded the number available.
ACCESSIONS.
In the two years 2063 volumes have been purchased and 19 have been added by gift.
LIFE SAVING STATIONS.
The captains and crews of the six Life Saving Stations on the Delaware coast have not been forgotten; while they have not always wanted the care and responsibility of a traveling library, they have expressed great pleasure and interest in receiving the Technical World and the Christian Herald, both magazines hav­ing been subcribed for and sent to them regularly at the sug­gestion of Mrs. James W. Anthony, a member of the State Library Commission.
BOOK WAGONS.
The book wagons of Kent and Sussex counties have met with great success and the work which has been accomplished has exceeded all expectations. Miss Hopkins of Sussex and Mrs. Schabinger, Miss Mast and Miss Garrison of Kent County have been conscientious and interested workers. The following is from a report of their work.
No. of Trips made. . . .
No. of Households visited
No. of Books loaned. . .
Respectfully submitted,
1. V. CULBRETH, Librarian.
REPORT OF TREASURER
Of THE STATE FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS FUND
1913
31 March, Received from treasurer of D.S.F .W.C. .. $100 00
1914
I May, Received from treasurer of D.S.F.W.C. .... $100 00
Expended for corner shelving. . .
Book bills . . . . . . . . . . ,
To Miss Mast for repairing books .
Balance in bank . .
Respectfully submitted,
$200 00
. $ I I 50
92 77
9 50
--- $[13 77
... $ 86 23
I. V. CULBRETH, Treasurer.
DELAWARE LIBRARIES.
DOVER-
Since the Dover Library was made Free and Public in Jan­uary 1902 there have been 1537 persons enrolled as regular bor­rowers. As a matter of fact this number falls far short of the actual number of borrowers as it is limited to two members in each household while all members of the household have the privilege of using the borrowers cards and the reading room.
The Library contains between 4,000 and 5,000 volumes and is open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from 3 to 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and from 7 to 8.45 in the evening.
The Library is constantly used by the pupils in the Public Schools and the students of the Wilmington Conference Academy in connection with their work. Periodicals, of which there are 49 in the reading room, after being kept on the tables for one month may be borrowed, and in the past two years 5,753 have been loaned.
In 1913 and 1914 38,271 books were borrowed of which 10, - 650 were juvenile. Fiction 25,781, Juvenile 9,664, non-fiction 1,840, Juvenile non-fiction 986.
A popular feature of the children's room is a low table filled with attractive picture books surrounded with small chairs filled with happy little people.
Respectfully submitted,
MISS L. B. MAST,
MISS M. E. FULTON,
Librarians.
11
ODESSA-
The Corbit Library contains 6,800 volumes. There are 325 borrowers, over 100 of them being from the surrounding country.
The library is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9 a. m. to 12 m. and from 1.30 to 4.30 p. m.
Only one book of fiction is allowed on a borrowers card, but several class books. Between three and four hundred books are being added a year.
As the library is in the school building, the reference books are of great use to the pupils and teachers. Books desired by patrons are bought if they are desirable additions to the library.
During the year this library has presented between seventy ­five and a hundred volumes of duplicates, to the St. Georges Library.
Respectfully submitted,
MISS MAY C. ENOS, Librarian.
REHOBOTH BEACH-
The Rehoboth Beach Free Library owns about 540 volumes. It is open to the public on Thursday and Friday evenings, from 6.30 to 8 o'clock. There are 115 borrowers. The children's library kept in the school building is open from 3.30 to 4.30 on Friday afternoons.
During the summer of 1914 a masquerade dance was given for the benefit of the library and netted $48. 10; rental of books to summer visitors amounted to $ 19.90; private contributions $10.00; making net receipts $78.00.
Respectfully submitted,
MISS MARY L. POWERS, Librarian.

Click tabs to swap between content that is broken into logical sections.

Prior written permission is required for any use of the images in this collection.

Transcript

SIXTH BIENNIAL REPORT OF The State Library Commission FOR THE STATE OF DELAWARE
1913-1914
THE STATE SENTINEL PRINT
DOVER, DEL.
SIXTH BIENNIAL REPORT
OF
The State Library Commission
FOR
THE STATE OF DELAWARE
1913-1914
THE STATE SENTINEL PRINT
DOVER, DEL.
STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION.
MEMBERS.
MRS. JAMES W. ANTHONY,
SMYRNA.
A. L. BAILEY,
WILMINGTON.
MRS. C. E. BURCHENAL,
WILMINGTON.
HENRY P. CANNON,
BRIDGEVILLE .
DANIEL W. CORBIT,
ODESSA.
MRS. CHARLES R. MILLER,
Red Oak Road, WILMINGTON.
G. H. MURRAY,
VIOLA.
MISS MARGARET ORR,
LEWES.
MRS. HENRY RIDGELY,
DOVER.
\
Reappointed June 13, 1910, for,5 years.
Reappointed June 13, 1910, for 5 years.
Reappointed Apr. 24, 191 2, for 5 years.
Reappointed Dec. 13, 1913, for 5 years.
Reappointed June 13, 1910 for, for 5 years.
Reappointed Dec. 28, 1912, for 5 years.
Appointed Feb. 10, 1911, for 5 years.
Appointed Jan. 4, 1912, for 5 years.
Appointed June 13, 1910, for 5 years.
OFFICERS.
DANIEL W. CORBIT, President.
T. W. WILSON, Secretary.
MISS IDA V. CULBRETH, Librarian.
All correspondence relating to the work of the Commission should be addressed to The State Library Commission, Dover, Delaware.
THE STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE.
Sixth Biennial Report-1913 and 1914
January 15, 1915.
To the Members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Delaware in General Assembly met:
The State Library Commission begs leave to submit the following report of the work of the Commission during the past two years.
The State Library Commission in its effort to make books accessible to everyone in the State has four lines of activity.
I. By suggestion, by the loan of books and by other means it endeavors to develop in the various towns of the State sentiment in favor of establishing free public libraries.
During the past two years a free public library has been started in Rehoboth Beach and also in St. Georges. The Com­mission has aided these small libraries as much as possible and it is to be hoped that as time goes on they will become more and more prosperous.
2 . It lends books to those individuals throughout the State who are studying special subjects and who do not have access to any library.
There are various persons scattered throughout the State who do not have access in any way to books. Some of these who live in New Castle county have the privilege of using the Wilmington Free Library. Those in the lower part of the State from time to time make calls upon the State Library Commission.
The number of books in our possession suitable for the use of serious students is very small, but those who have had occasion
4
to use them have always been deeply grateful and the amount of good accomplished cannot be measured in terms of dollars and cents.
3. It maintains nearly 100 small collections of books known as "Traveling Libraries" which it sends to villages, towns, clubs, granges, lodges, day schools and Sunday schools, busi­ness organizations-in [.act, to any organization or institution which will agree to be responsible for the books and make them accessible to the public.
Until the year 1912 practically the sole activity of the Com­mission lay in its maintenance of these "Traveling Libraries."
During the past 14 years they have gone into many schools and communities which otherwise would never have been brought 'into contact with the best books of modern times, and would have remained untouched by the thought of modern thinkers.
It is true that these books have gone into many communities, but it is also true that a much larger number of communities have not had the benefit of these tools of modern education.
In fact, the resources of the Commission are severely taxed with present demands. A reference to the report of the Librarian will show that during the years 1913 and 1914, 267 "Traveling Libraries" were sent out, the total number of books being over 12,000.
In 1914 the number of requests for these "Traveling Libraries" exceeded the number available. Twenty new libra­ries, costing at least $50 each, ought to be added immediately in order to meet the demand for 1915. The present appropriation for the Commission does not permit of such a large increase.
4. It maintains book wagons which deliver books from house to house on country routes in Kent and Sussex counties.
This work, begun in the fall of 1912, has met with such warm response and appreciation from the people of the districts reached that the field has widened rapidly during the last two years showing that there is a real need in the State for service of this kind. In actual operation books to the number of 75 or more are placed in a wagon or an automobile in charge of an
5
agent who not only knows books but studies the tastes and needs of the people whom she serves. The wagon goes from house to house on selected routes in the country. The people have a chance to look over the books, can return books previously bor­rowed, and select new books on their own initiative or on advice of the librarian in charge. The wagon then proceeds to the next house. The purpose of these book wagons is to supplement in a way the work of the schools, but mainly to inculcate a love of good books and to broaden the outlook of the readers. In the opinion of the members of the Library Commission I no other work undertaken by the State in recent years promises such far­reaching results. So far only a very small beginning has been made in this latest phase of educational effort.
A reference to the report of the Librarian shows that in 1914 the number of households visited and the number of books loaned increased about 70%. The routes so far laid out exist wholly in Sussex and Kent counties. The appropriation is utterly inadequate to make more than a beginning in the work and so far. The Commission has not felt able to start a book wagon in any part of New Castle county. The possibilities of the work are limited only by the number of families in rural Delaware.
We respectfully call your attention to the Biennial Report of the Librarian, Miss Culbreth, which gives full statistics of the work done, and also to the Report of Mr. Thomas Wilson, who is Ex-officio Secretary and Treasurer of the Commission.
Respectfully submitted,
D. W. CORBIT, President.
REPORT OF TREASURER
OF THE STATE LIBRARY COMMISSION FOR TWO YEARS.
1913-1914.
The amount of the appropriation for the years 1913 and 19 14
in the hands of the State Treasurer subject to warrants signed by
President and Secretary of the Commission, was $2,200.
Librarian's salary
Books . . .. . .
Stationery, Stamps and Printing
Coal .... ... .
Repairs of Books, etc.
Repairs of Boxes, New Cases and etc.
Expenses .
Supplies ..
Bookwagon
Librarian's Salary . . . .
Books . . . . . .. . . .
Stationery, Stamps and Printing
Coal . . . . .. ... . . .
Repairs of Books, etc. . . . .
Repairs of Boxes, New Cases and etc.
Expenses .
Supplies ..
Bookwagon
Respectfully submitted,
• $ 480 00
864 g6
112 63
34 .56
40 35
49 01
155 18
67 24
396 07
$ 2,200 00
. $ 480 00
71 I 12
68 75
22 00
56 82
124 38
167 84
65 45
50 3 64
$ 2,200 00
THOMAS W. WILSON, Treasurer.
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.
The librarian submits the following report for the year 1913-1914.
TRAVELING LIBRARIES.
The traveling libraries have increased in numbers, and it would seem in usefulness also, for many encouraging words and letters have come from a number of teachers and others using the libraries, expressing to the Commission their appreciation of the work, its helpfulness, and their interest in it. These li­braries are sent throughout the State to schools, Sunday schools, clubs, granges, lodges and various other associations. Those sent to the day schools are also for the use of the community in which they are placed, and as there is often a request from a pupil for a book to take home to· the parents, there are to be found in almost all the libraries a few books for older people. At the request of a number of teachers books on special subjects have been sent to them. Books on farming have been used freely by those interested in agriculture. Several of the women's clubs in the State continue to borrow books from the Commission for their study classes. The Boy Scouts of Clayton, Laurel and Selbyville have been supplied with books of special interest to them. The new Century Clubs of Delmar, Georgetown and Laurel and the Boys' and Girls' Club of Milford, the Rehoboth Beach Free Library, a library association of St. Georges and the W. C. T. U. of Townsend all have the traveling libraries in their free reading rooms.
CIRCULATION.
In 1913 the traveling libraries were circulated 122 times, 301 requests were filled for books and libraries and 5937 volumes were loaned.
In 1914 fifteen new cases were added to the collection, making a total of ninety-five traveling libraries. These libraries
8
were circulated 145 times, 535 requests were filled for libraries and books, 7204 volumes were loaned. These numbers do not include the books from several libraries which are in constant use with the book wagons. In 1914 the requests for traveling libraries far exceeded the number available.
ACCESSIONS.
In the two years 2063 volumes have been purchased and 19 have been added by gift.
LIFE SAVING STATIONS.
The captains and crews of the six Life Saving Stations on the Delaware coast have not been forgotten; while they have not always wanted the care and responsibility of a traveling library, they have expressed great pleasure and interest in receiving the Technical World and the Christian Herald, both magazines hav­ing been subcribed for and sent to them regularly at the sug­gestion of Mrs. James W. Anthony, a member of the State Library Commission.
BOOK WAGONS.
The book wagons of Kent and Sussex counties have met with great success and the work which has been accomplished has exceeded all expectations. Miss Hopkins of Sussex and Mrs. Schabinger, Miss Mast and Miss Garrison of Kent County have been conscientious and interested workers. The following is from a report of their work.
No. of Trips made. . . .
No. of Households visited
No. of Books loaned. . .
Respectfully submitted,
1. V. CULBRETH, Librarian.
REPORT OF TREASURER
Of THE STATE FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS FUND
1913
31 March, Received from treasurer of D.S.F .W.C. .. $100 00
1914
I May, Received from treasurer of D.S.F.W.C. .... $100 00
Expended for corner shelving. . .
Book bills . . . . . . . . . . ,
To Miss Mast for repairing books .
Balance in bank . .
Respectfully submitted,
$200 00
. $ I I 50
92 77
9 50
--- $[13 77
... $ 86 23
I. V. CULBRETH, Treasurer.
DELAWARE LIBRARIES.
DOVER-
Since the Dover Library was made Free and Public in Jan­uary 1902 there have been 1537 persons enrolled as regular bor­rowers. As a matter of fact this number falls far short of the actual number of borrowers as it is limited to two members in each household while all members of the household have the privilege of using the borrowers cards and the reading room.
The Library contains between 4,000 and 5,000 volumes and is open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from 3 to 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and from 7 to 8.45 in the evening.
The Library is constantly used by the pupils in the Public Schools and the students of the Wilmington Conference Academy in connection with their work. Periodicals, of which there are 49 in the reading room, after being kept on the tables for one month may be borrowed, and in the past two years 5,753 have been loaned.
In 1913 and 1914 38,271 books were borrowed of which 10, - 650 were juvenile. Fiction 25,781, Juvenile 9,664, non-fiction 1,840, Juvenile non-fiction 986.
A popular feature of the children's room is a low table filled with attractive picture books surrounded with small chairs filled with happy little people.
Respectfully submitted,
MISS L. B. MAST,
MISS M. E. FULTON,
Librarians.
11
ODESSA-
The Corbit Library contains 6,800 volumes. There are 325 borrowers, over 100 of them being from the surrounding country.
The library is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9 a. m. to 12 m. and from 1.30 to 4.30 p. m.
Only one book of fiction is allowed on a borrowers card, but several class books. Between three and four hundred books are being added a year.
As the library is in the school building, the reference books are of great use to the pupils and teachers. Books desired by patrons are bought if they are desirable additions to the library.
During the year this library has presented between seventy ­five and a hundred volumes of duplicates, to the St. Georges Library.
Respectfully submitted,
MISS MAY C. ENOS, Librarian.
REHOBOTH BEACH-
The Rehoboth Beach Free Library owns about 540 volumes. It is open to the public on Thursday and Friday evenings, from 6.30 to 8 o'clock. There are 115 borrowers. The children's library kept in the school building is open from 3.30 to 4.30 on Friday afternoons.
During the summer of 1914 a masquerade dance was given for the benefit of the library and netted $48. 10; rental of books to summer visitors amounted to $ 19.90; private contributions $10.00; making net receipts $78.00.
Respectfully submitted,
MISS MARY L. POWERS, Librarian.